July 1st, 2014 by Lyle Smith

QNAP HS-251 Silent NAS Now Available

QNAP Systems has announced the immediate availability of the HS-251, the next model in its Silent NAS series. Designed for the living room and as a home theater PC/NAS combo due to its quiet, fan-less build, the HS-251 is equipped with powerful hardware, a wide range of multimedia applications, real-time and offline Full HD video transcoding, and HDMI connectivity for local playback.

QNAP’s HS-251 is a sleek looking, silent NAS that is designed to fit alongside HDTVs, cable boxes, and game consoles. Additionally, with HDMI output and Intel Dual-Core Processor, the HS-251 brings the NAS fully into the living room by providing the power, connectivity, and apps required to use as a centralized storage solution.

The HS-251’s HDMI output allows users to connect to an HDTV or Hi-Fi amplifier and the ability to use QNAPS’s HD Station to play multimedia content. The HD Station features a XBMC-based home multimedia player that plays video, music, and photo collections stored on the HS-251. In addition, users can watch YouTube and surf the web with the Qremote mobile app or MCE-compatible remotes using wireless keyboards and mice.

The HS-251 also has on-the-fly and offline Full HD video transcoding capabilities and can flexibly convert videos into formats that can be played on PCs, mobile devices, and smart TVs. It also allows multiple devices to simultaneously watch different videos. Users can watch high quality videos by selecting a suitable resolution using File Station, Video Station, or the iOS and Android Qfile app, even when in remote sites with limited or restricted Internet access.

The HS-251 is powered by QNAP’s QTS 4.1 operating system and is easy to set up and manage for everyday use. It is also designed with a familiar and user-friendly interface, allowing users to work the device with little to no effort. To expand the functionality of the HS-251, QNAP offers more than 100 apps on demand from the App Center. In addition, the HS-251 offers a wide range of mobile apps for users to play multimedia, access their data, and manage their HS-251 remotely.